St Augustine prepares for pirate raid

Historic City News has been asked to warn our readers that on Saturday evening, March 3rd at 5:00 PM, Searle’s Buccaneers will sack the City in a historical reenactment of Searle’s 17th century raid.

In 1668, Captain Robert Searle and his privateers sailed from Jamaica to loot the silver ingots held in the royal coffers at St Augustine. Under the cover of night, they slipped into the harbor and attacked the sleeping town, killing sixty people and pillaging government buildings, churches and homes.

Over 350 years after the fact, we will still experience modern-day traffic interruptions. City spokesman Paul Williamson told Historic City News that “intermittent disruptions” will occur in parts of downtown St Augustine Saturday evening.

The Fountain of Youth will play host to a historic encampment with drills, demonstrations, and living history interpretation taking place from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM Saturday.

The re-enactment begins south of the Plaza de la Constitución at 5:00 PM along Aviles Street then continues through the Plaza and north on St George Street — concluding near the City Gates and Santo Domingo Redoubt at the corner of Orange Street and Cordova Street at approximately 6:00 PM.

Traffic near the Plaza will be halted for brief periods to allow the procession to pass and Orange Street and Cordova Street near the City Gate will be closed for the conclusion of the event.

If you have to drive during this time, Williamson asked that you avoid these areas.